polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

What is meant and perceived as polite in a given context, however, will depend on judgments of appropriateness and markedness.

Someone who is polite has good manners and behaves in a way that is socially correct and not rude to other people. Everyone around him was trying to be polite, but you could tell they were all bored. …

Definition of polite adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

of a refined or elegant kind: polite learning. po•lite′ness, n. 1. well-bred, gracious. See civil. 2. urbane, polished, poised, courtly, cultivated. 1. 2. rude. In Lists: Top 2000 English words, Desirable personal …

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the word polite, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Mar 2, 2026 · Adjective polite (comparative politer or more polite, superlative politest or most polite) Well-mannered, civilized.